inflate

• POS: Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: in=flate

CIDE DICTIONARY

inflate, p. a. [L. inflatus, p. p. of inflare to inflate; pref. in- in + flare to blow. See Blow to puff wind.].

 Blown in; inflated.  Chaucer.  [1913 Webster]

inflate, v. t. 

•  To swell or distend with air or gas; to dilate; to expand; to enlarge; as, to inflate a bladder; to inflate the lungs.  [1913 Webster]

  "When passion's tumults in the bosom rise,
  Inflate the features, and enrage the eyes."  [1913 Webster]
•  Fig.: To swell; to puff up; to elate; as, to inflate one with pride or vanity.  [1913 Webster]

  "Inflate themselves with some insane delight."  [1913 Webster]
•  To cause to become unduly expanded or increased; as, to inflate the currency.  [1913 Webster]

inflate, v. i. 

 To expand; to fill; to distend.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

inflate, v.tr.
1 distend (a balloon etc.) with air.
2 (usu. foll. by with; usu. in passive) puff up (a person with pride etc.).
3 a (often absol.) bring about inflation (of the currency). b raise (prices) artificially.
4 (as inflated adj.) (esp. of language, sentiments, etc.) bombastic.

Derivative

inflatedly adv. inflatedness n. inflater n. inflator n.

Etymology

L inflare inflat- (as IN-(2), flare blow)

THESAURUS

inflate

Barnumize, add to, aggrandize, amplify, augment, balloon, bloat, blow, blow up, bombast, boost, broaden, build, build up, bulk, bulk out, crescendo, develop, dilate, distend, enlarge, exaggerate, exalt, expand, extend, fatten, fill out, hike, hike up, huff, increase, jack up, jump up, lay it on, lengthen, magnify, maximize, overdevelop, overdistend, overdraw, overexpand, overextend, overstrain, overstretch, parlay, pile it on, pontificate, puff, puff up, pump, pump up, put up, pyramid, raise, rarefy, strain, stretch, sufflate, swell, talk big, talk highfalutin, thicken, up, vapor, widen

ROGET THESAURUS

inflate

Diffuseness

VB be diffuse, run out on, descant, expatiate, enlarge, dilate, amplify, expand, inflate, launch out, branch out, rant, maunder, prose, harp upon, dwell on, insist upon, digress, ramble, battre la campagne, beat about the bush, perorate, spin a long yarn, protract, spin out, swell out, draw out, battologize.

Money

VB amount to, come to, mount up to, touch the pocket, draw, draw upon, indorse, issue, utter, discount, back, demonetize, remonetize, fiscalize, monetize, circulate, be in circulation, be out of circulation, mint (coins), coin, print (paper currency), inflate, deflate, debase, devalue, revalue, circulate, put in circulation, withdraw from circulation, exchange currencies, change money, charge interest, pay interest, lose interest.

Expansion

VB become larger &c (large), expand, widen, enlarge, extend, grow, increase, incrassate, swell, gather, fill out, deploy, take open order, dilate, stretch, distend, spread, mantle, wax, grow up, spring up, bud, bourgeon, shoot, sprout, germinate, put forth, vegetate, pullulate, open, burst forth, gain flesh, gather flesh, outgrow, spread like wildfire, overrun, be larger than, surpass, render larger &c (large), expand, spread, extend, aggrandize, distend, develop, amplify, spread out, widen, magnify, rarefy, inflate, puff, blow up, stuff, pad, cram, exaggerate, fatten.

Vanity

VB be vain, be vain of, pique oneself, lay the flattering unction to one's soul, have too high an opinion of oneself, have an overweening opinion of oneself, have too high an opinion of one's talents, blind oneself as to one's own merit, not think small beer of oneself, not think vin ordinaire of oneself, put oneself forward, fish for compliments, give oneself airs, boast, render vain, inspire with vanity, inflate, puff up, turn up, turn one's head.

Wind

VB blow, waft, blow hard, blow great guns, blow a hurricane, wuther, stream, issue, respire, breathe, puff, whiff, whiffle, gasp, wheeze, snuff, snuffle, sniff, sniffle, sneeze, cough, fan, ventilate, inflate, perflate, blow up.